Genea Brice

Summary

Dr. Genea Brice is an American poet. She was the first Poet Laureate of Vallejo, California.[2]

Dr.

Genea Brice
Vallejo Poet Laureate Genea Brice
Vallejo Poet Laureate Genea Brice
BornOakland, California[1]
OccupationPoet laureate of Vallejo, California (2015-2017)
Alma materSacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College
Genrepoetry
Website
geneabrice.com

Biography edit

Dr. Genea Sheles Brice was born in Oakland, California[1] and raised in Vallejo, California.[3] She is a graduate of Hogan Senior High School in Vallejo.[4] She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in English Literature and a Teaching Credential from Patten University.[5][3] She went on to the Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College to earn her Master of Arts and doctorate in Theological Studies.[5][3] In addition to becoming Vallejo's first poet laureate, she served on the Commission on Culture and the Arts.[4] Following her service as poet laureate she briefly relocated to Dallas, Texas in 2018.[4] She currently resides in Vacaville, California[6] and works as a teacher.[7]

Poetry edit

A poetry aficionado since her youth,[8] Dr. Brice advocated[9][10] for the founding of the poet laureate program in Vallejo.[11] She served as poet laureate of Vallejo, California from August 2015 to September 2017.[12] During her tenure, she performed at several local events and celebrations, including Art Walk, [13] Visions of the Wild,[13] Women's History Month,[14] Juneteenth,[15] Martin Luther King Jr. Day,[16] and a vigil after the Charlottesville car attack.[17] She taught students about Martin Luther King Jr.,[18] gave presentations on Maya Angelou and Sonia Sanchez for Voices of Change[19] and spoke about Ernest J. Gaines at the Solano County Library.[20] Dr. Brice lead a monthly poetry circle, Poetry in Notion,[21] and hosted annual shows for National Poetry Month.[21][22] She also spoke at events for numerous organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha, NAACP, Community Democratic Club, Delta Sigma Theta, The Links, Rotary Club, Harvest House, United States Forest Service, Soroptimist International, and Vallejo Sister Cities.[12] She was succeeded as poet laureate by D.L. Lang in 2017.[2]

In 2020 Dr. Brice performed at a rally against police violence in Vallejo.[23] In 2021 she performed at a virtual benefit for the Solano County Library Foundation.[24][25][26] She also read at the Juneteenth flag raising at Martin Luther King, Jr. park in Vallejo,[27][6][28] and at another commemoration of Juneteenth in Suisun City.[29][30] She also performed with her successors at Alibi Bookshop.[31][32] In 2022 she read in Fairfield at a Juneteenth event for the Solano County Library.[33][34] In 2023 she helped high school seniors with a Black History Month poetry project,[35] and performed at the Cordelia Library for National Poetry Month, [36] and at Alibi Bookshop for the Vallejo Poetry Festival.[37] In 2024 she performed at a Black History Month event in Vallejo,[38] an event promoting literacy in Fairfield,[39] and at the Fairfield Library with fellow poets laureate.[40]

Works edit

Poetry collections edit

  • A Way with Words: Poems, Prose, and other Masterpieces 2017.[41]

Anthologies edit

  • The Colors of Life The International Library of Poetry. 2003.[5]
  • The Best Poems and Poets of 2005 The International Library of Poetry. 2005.[5]
  • A Word for All Seasons Benicia Literary Arts, 2014.[5]
  • Poeming Pigeons: Poems about Birds The Poetry Box. 2015.[42][5]
  • Lang, D.L. ed., Verses, Voices, & Visions of Vallejo 2019.[3]

Publications edit

  • Brice, Genea, “A Tuesday Text,” Benicia Herald, October 7, 2020.[43]
  • Brice, Genea, “Galveston,” Benicia Herald, June 18, 2021.[44]
  • Brice, Genea, “Vacaville,” The Diablo Gazette, April 2022.[45]

Memoir edit

  • Weaned in the Desert: Souvenirs from Sacred Seasons with my Savior Xulon Press. 2010.[46]

Spoken word album edit

  • A Way with Words: The Poet Speaks (2024)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Widjojo, Irma (2015-07-28). "Vallejo woman named cities first poet laureate". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  2. ^ a b "VAL-L-PoetBrice-0831". timesheraldonline.com. 12 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Verses, Voices and Visions of Vallejo". vallejopoetrysociety.org. Vallejo Poetry Society. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Freedman, Richard (June 28, 2018). "Vallejo's first Poet Laureate moving to Texas". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Genea S. Brice". emergeamerica.org. Emerge California. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b Freedman, Richard (2 June 2021). "No Juneteenth event, but flag flies to honor slavery's end". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  7. ^ Coleman, Monica (12 September 2023). "Effective Black Parenting Program is back at Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District". ABC10. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  8. ^ Widjojo, Irma. "Vallejo woman named city's first poet laureate". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Vallejo appoints two poets laureate in historic first". Vallejo Times Herald. 25 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  10. ^ Brice, Genea (28 February 2013). "Poet Laureates in Vallejo". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  11. ^ Egitto, Daniel (6 October 2023). "Vallejo seeks next poet laureate". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Proclamation Honoring Genea Brice as the First Poet Laureate for the City of Vallejo". City of Vallejo. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  13. ^ a b De Guzman, Dianne (10 October 2015). "Vallejo Poet Laureate Genea Brice honored during Art Walk reception". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  14. ^ Rogness, Jessica (23 March 2018). "Solano County honors Barton at Women's History Luncheon". The Vacaville Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  15. ^ Freedman, Richard (9 June 2016). "June 9 Vallejo A&E Source: Amos Carter back at Vallejo Juneteenth — as the singing pastor". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  16. ^ Hansen, Todd (16 January 2018). "MLK Day March in Vallejo celebrates King, his call to action". Fairfield Daily Republic. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  17. ^ Glidden, John (14 August 2017). "Vallejoans stand up to bigotry, hate". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  18. ^ Brinkerhoff, Noel (7 February 2016). "Poet laureate teaches legacy of Martin Luther King". Napa Valley Register. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  19. ^ Sestanovich, Nick (21 March 2018). "3 poets laureate to celebrate 6 female poets in free library event". Benicia Herald. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  20. ^ Flavell, Kay (29 March 2017). "Celebrating the power of mentors". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  21. ^ a b Sestanovich, Nick (8 April 2016). "JFK Library in Vallejo will celebrate National Poetry Month". Benicia Herald. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Listen to local poets at Saturday library event". Fairfield Daily Republic. 14 April 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  23. ^ Miller, Caroline (28 June 2020). "Wrong Side of History". Vallejo Times-Herald. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  24. ^ "The Week Ahead: Talk with Solano poets goes virtual". Fairfield Daily Republic. 19 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  25. ^ Maginnis-Honey, Amy (18 April 2021). "Solano poets to share words of hope, encouragement at virtual How Poetry Heals event". Fairfield Daily Republic. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  26. ^ Freedman, Richard (8 April 2021). "Always Something to Celebrate". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  27. ^ Raskin-Zrihen, Rachel (2 June 2021). "Juneteenth flag flies for first time over Vallejo". Fairfield Daily Republic. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  28. ^ Freedman, Richard (17 June 2021). "Juneteenth National Independence Day becomes federal holiday". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  29. ^ Sestanovich, Nick (21 June 2021). "Suisun City recognizes Juneteenth with brief ceremony". The Vacaville Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Suisun City hosts Juneteenth commemoration Monday". Fairfield Daily Republic. 20 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  31. ^ Freedman, Richard (24 August 2021). "Rare time three poets laureate gather". Vallejo Times-Herald. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  32. ^ Freedman, Richard (7 September 2021). "September 9 Arts and Entertainment Source Always Something to Celebrate". Vacaville Reporter. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Solano Library Foundation to host Willie Brown Jr. for Juneteenth event". Fairfield Daily Republic. May 11, 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Willie Brown Jr. speaking at the Hilton Garden Inn in June". Vallejo Times Herald. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  35. ^ Bruce, Suzanne (5 February 2023). "Poetry Connection: Rodriguez High poets ponder Black experience". Fairfield Daily Republic. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  36. ^ "At the Library: A Pageantry of Poetry celebrates National Poetry Month". Fairfield Daily Republic. 3 April 2023. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  37. ^ Baker, Jordan (14 April 2023). "Indulge in poetry with an alibi". Vallejo Times Herald. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Black History Month at Solano libraries". The Daily Republic. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  39. ^ Hiland, Susan (10 March 2024). "Adult learners, tutors for Solano Literacy Program celebrated". Fairfield Daily Republic. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  40. ^ "Solano county poet laureates guests gather for a poetry affair". Daily Republic. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  41. ^ "August 31 Vallejo A&E Source: Vallejo's former poet laureate stays at it – Times-Herald". timesheraldonline.com. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  42. ^ "Poeming Pigeons: Poems about Birds". thepoetrybox.com. The Poetry Box. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  43. ^ "Yearning to Breathe Free Vol 47". marysusangast.com. 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  44. ^ "Not There Yet Vol 4". marysusangast.com. 22 June 2021. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  45. ^ Brice, Genea (April 2022). ""Vacaville"" (PDF). No. April 2022, page 10. The Diablo Gazette. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  46. ^ "Bit a dry eye when Brice finished "Weaned in the Desert" – Times-Herald". timesheraldonline.com. 5 October 2010. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.